PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told Perikatan Nasional leaders that the government must do all it can to win the vote of confidence in Parliament on Sept 7.

       Several sources told The Star that the Prime Minister, in a meeting with the leaders on Wednesday, asked everyone to not only be prepared for the motion of confidence to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat in September, but to also be prepared for a general election if it failed.

       “The Prime Minister admitted that there is a need to get more Members of Parliament on board to give him a strong majority when voting takes place on Sept 7.

       “Muhyiddin was in high spirits and in a fighting mode as he said that he had no choice but to get the confidence in the Dewan Rakyat or the people would have to face a general election during the pandemic.

       “We were also told that the vote of confidence would be as scheduled, in the next session of Parliament when it opens on Sept 6 and it will be on Sept 7 as the Royal Address by the King will be on the first day.

       “Muhyiddin held a meeting between the leaders of parties in Perikatan as it would not have been right to discuss political party matters during the Cabinet meeting earlier in the day.

       “There was some discussion on a possible election should the vote of confidence fail, but the PM is quite convinced that he, for now, is the MP who holds the most number of confidence votes from MPs in the Dewan Rakyat,” said the source.

       A meeting between Perikatan leaders was held at Putra Perdana on Wednesday after the Cabinet meeting earlier that day, as the vote-of-confidence issue continued to be debated.

       The sources added that Muhyiddin also said that if he failed to garner enough votes in the House, he would advise the King to dissolve Parliament.

       “We discussed a few scenarios should the King not agree to a dissolution,” said the sources.

       They also said that Muhyiddin asked the various party leaders for their full support during the vote of confidence.

       Another source confirmed that Muhyiddin had briefed the Cabinet on his discussion with the King earlier that day and said the motion of confidence would go on as planned.

       Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Adviser to the Prime Minister, said Muhyiddin would follow the Federal Constitution to ensure the Perikatan government stayed intact for the sake of the people.

       “There have been calls for an earlier special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat before the new session.

       However, Muhyiddin believes that there is no need for such a special sitting, especially during a pandemic.

       “The government is intent on following the Constitution and we have agreed that it will be held in September. We already have a schedule and Muhyiddin believes we should stick to that.

       “Even if we have a minority government, it will stop a general election during a pandemic.

       “If the motion of confidence fails in September, and if the King agrees to a dissolution, the general election will only take place in November and we will already have reached herd immunity by October,” said Ahmad Faizal.